Life in Knoxville during the 1940s

While home on leave on July 20, 1944, Ross "Bud" Perrin is saluted by his nephew, Ross Greene. (Ross Greene/Special)

Ross Greene

A view of downtown Knoxvile circa 1936. Nine years later, author John Gunther came to town to do research for his book "Inside USA." Gunter's appraisal of the the city - "Knoxville is the ugliest city I ever saw in America" - lead to the creation of the Dogwood Arts Festival. (KNS Archive)

Knoxville News Sentinel

Draftee Woodrow Wood of 1227 Hoitt Avenue departs for World War II in April 1942. According to the City Directory, his wife is named Ethel but the News Sentinel caption writer did not record her name. (KNS Archive)

Knoxville News Sentinel

Ross "Bud" Perrin and his wife, Thelma, who was crowned Miss Knoxville in 1940. Perrin was killed when his B-17 was shot down Dec. 11, 1944, over Germany. He was one of 136 Knoxville High School alumni who last their lives in World War II. (Ross Greene/Special)

Ross Greene

Ross "Bud" Perrin with his mother, Maude, and nephew, Ross Greene. Perrin, while home on leave. (Ross Greene/Special)

Ross Greene

B-17 bombardier Ross "Bud" Perrin is shown in his "escape and evasion" photograph. Airmen carried the photos in order to make fake identification documents in case they were shot down. (Ross Greene/Special)

Ross Greene

Ross "Bud" Perrin, a bombardier killed Dec. 11, 1944, over Germany when his B-17 was shot down. A 1935 Knoxville High School graduate, Perrin was one of 136 KHS alumni who died in World War II. (Ross Greene/Special)

Ross Greene

In an October 1950 photograph, University of Tennessee Professor Edward Judy, left, Vol Network announcer Lindsey Nelson and Jack Joyner with UT sports information take notes at the Sigma Chi Derby. (KNS Archive)

Knoxville News Sentinel

The Dec. 8, 1941 edition of the Knoxville News Sentinel reports on the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. (KNS Archive)

Knoxville News Sentinel

Lindsey Nelson. 1946. (KNS Archive)

Knoxville News Sentinel

John Gunther is pictured in Knoxville May 2, 1945 while researching his book "Inside USA." Gunter's appraisal of the the city -"Knoxville is the ugliest city I ever saw in America, with the possible exception of some mill towns in New England" - lead to the creation of the Dogwood Arts Festival. (KNS Archive)

In a 1945 photograph, Mayor-elect Cas Walker and Miss Libby Walker, the Miami Orange Bowl Queen, pose at the door of Delta Airline's Mayor's Special. January 1946. Walker served as mayor barely 11 months before losing Knoxvilles first and only recall election. (KNS Archives)

John Gunther in 1941 doing a radio broadcast. His book "Inside USA." Gunter's appraisal of the the city -"Knoxville is the ugliest city I ever saw in America, with the possible exception of some mill towns in New England" - lead to the creation of the Dogwood Arts Festival. (KNS Archive)

In an undated photograph, former UUCLA football coach Billy Barnes, left, actor James Garner and announcer Lindsey Nelson chat at 20th Century Fox Studio in Hollywood. (KNS Archive)

Knoxville News Sentinel

Ross "Bud" Perrin, a bombardier killed Dec. 11, 1944, over Germany when his B-17 was shot down. A 1935 Knoxville High School graduate, Perrin was one of 136 KHS alumni who died in World War II. (Ross Greene/Special)

Ross Greene

Ross "Bud" Perrin with his B-17 crew. Elvis McCoy and Durwood Suggs were the only survivors when the plane was shot down Dec. 11, 1944, over Germany. (Ross Greene/Special)

Ross Greene

Ross "Bud" Perrin and his wife, Thelma, visit a Townsend cornfield in 1942. Perrin, a bombardier with a B-17 crew, was shot down and killed Dec. 11, 1944, over Germany. He was one of 136 Knoxville High School alumni who last their lives in World War II. (Ross Greene/Special)

Ross Greene

In a 1938 photograph, the Knoxville Housing Authority builds 320 apartment units at College Homes - now Mechanicsville Commons. People began to move into those units and an additional 200 units at Austin Homes in 1941. (Knoxville's Community Development Corp.)

Knoxville's Community Developmen

Insurance salesman Hugh Dorsey Dunlap departs for World War II in May 1942. (KNS Archive)

Knoxville News Sentinel

Bing Crosby entertains 381st Bomb Group airmen on Sept. 2, 1944 in Ridgewell, England. Knoxville High School graduate Ross "Bud" Perrin was in the crowd that day according to his nephew Ross Greene. (Ross Greene/Special)

Ross Greene

County School Superintendent Mildred Doyle congratulates School Board member Wallace Burroughs after a swearing in ceremony Sept. 1, 1960 at the Knox County Courthouse. Other School Board members are William McDermott, Dr. Hilton Smith and Farmer Johnson. (KNS archive)

KNS archive

War Correspondent Ernie Pyle at his Albuquerque home in 1941. Pyle visited Knoxville in the 1930s and complimented the residents for their friendliness but termed the city the dirtiest heíd seen in the country. (KNS Archive)

News Sentinel Editor Loye Miller in a photograph dated September 1960. Responding to John Gunther's criticism of Knoxville, Miller in an editorial urged the city to save its indignation and put its energy into proving Gunther and other critics wrong. (KNS Archive)

Ross "Bud" Perrin in his 1935 Knoxville High School senior picture. A bombardier in the U.S. Army Air Force, he was killed Dec. 11, 1944 over Germany when his B-17 was shot down. Perrin was one of 136 KHS alumni who died in World War II. (Ross Greene/Special)

Ross Greene

Pfc. James M. Buchanan and family during World War II. Maude Buchanan gave birth to the couple's 15th child in 1943. (KNS Archive)

Knoxville News Sentinel

A 1940 aerial photograph shows College Homes under construction in Mechanicsville. When the Knoxville Housing Authority built the citys first housing projects, "It raised everybody up, both black and white, who were living in extreme poverty, said Robert J. Booker, former executive director of the Beck Cultural Exchange Center. (KNS Archive)

Knoxville News Sentinel

Ross "Bud" Perrin visits Big Ridge State Park with his wife, Thelma, sister, Evelyn Greene, and nephew, Ross Greene. Perrin was one of 136 Knoxville High School alumni who last their lives in World War II. (Ross Greene/Special)

Ross Greene

In a December 1961 photograph, University of Tennessee coach Bowden Wyatt, left, NBC-TV announcer Lindsey Nelson and center Mike Lucci are seen during the Vol football banquet at the C'est Bon restaurant on Alcoa Highway. Lucci is being congratulated for being named to the All-Southeastern Conference team. (KNS Archive)

Ross Greene with his cousin, Rosalind Perrin Davis. Rosalind was born 36 days after her father, Ross "Bud" Perrin, was killed when his B-17 was shot down over Germany. She lives in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., today. (Ross Greene/Special)

Ross Greene

In a May 25, 1947 News Sentinel, editor Loye Miller responds to John Gunther's book "Inside USA," which describes Knoxville as, " the ugliest city I ever saw in America." (KNS Archive)